Can my employer force me to return to the office if I've been working from home?

Unless your employment contract says you can work from home, or it's part of your company's policy, workers don't generally have a right to remote work. But if you've already been working remotely with your employer's approval, the picture changes.

In a May 2026 BC Court of Appeal decision, an employee had been working from home for years with her employer's explicit approval — even though the arrangement was never put in writing. When the company abruptly ordered her back to the office full time, the court found this was constructive dismissal — in other words, a change so significant it was treated as ending her employment. The employer was required to pay 19 months' wages.

The court was careful to note that this ruling doesn't mean every remote work arrangement automatically becomes a permanent right. What mattered in this case was the length of the arrangement, the consistent approval, and the lack of any notice before ordering her back. An employer may be able to end a remote arrangement — but they likely need to give you reasonable notice to do so.

So if you've been working remotely with your company's approval, there's an argument that it's become a core part of your employment contract — one they can't simply revoke without warning. If your arrangement was always described as temporary, that's different: an employer can reasonably end a temporary arrangement, as long as they give reasonable notice.

If you haven't been authorized to work remotely, you'd typically need to get approval first. How you frame the request matters. Be ready to explain how you can do your job well — if not better — from home. We have tips for talking with your employer to help you through these conversations, and guidance on requesting flexible work arrangements.